Yura Yura Teikoku (ゆらゆら帝国, literally "Unstable Empire") was a 3-piece band … Read Full Bio ↴Yura Yura Teikoku (ゆらゆら帝国, literally "Unstable Empire") was a 3-piece band from Tokyo's underground music scene centered around Kōenji. They have an eclectic sound usually described as psychedelic rock. Whilst renowned and highly influential within Japan, it took them 16 years since their formation in 1989 to play a show outside of Japan, performing in New York City in 2005.

Yura Yura Teikoku was formed in 1989 with vocalist/guitarist Shintaro Sakamoto as leader, bassist Chiyo Kamekawa and a succession of other members. Drummer Ichiro Shibata joined in 1997 to form the current lineup, and the trio soon signed with Midi Records. The band released five studio albums, one live recording album and two greatest hits albums on Midi.

In 2005, Yura Yura Teikoku signed with Sony Japan and released their ninth studio album, "SWEET SPOT", and a remix 12-inch,“SOFT DEATH / FRANKIE TEARDROP" (Suicide cover). “SOFT DEATH" was embraced by the dance community, and "SWEET SPOT" was elected one of the best albums of the year in various media in Japan and overseas. The band also released a live album of material from their Midi years titled "na.ma.shi.bi.re.na.ma.me.ma.i" on New York-based Mesh-Key Records.
In October of the same year, Mesh-Key Records organized two shows for the band in New York (their first shows ever outside Japan), and was welcomed with rave reviews by the local media. New and old fans alike packed into the venues to see the band's one-of-a-kind performance.

In June, 2006, the CD single “Into The Next Night” and remix 12-inch“Into The Next Night / You Can't Fight Fate”were released. In July, Mesh-Key Records released the 12-inch“SOFT DEATH / IT WAS A ROBOT" and brought the band back for a second batch of New York shows, which were even more packed than the first. The "SOFT DEATH" 12-inch has been championed by such deejays as Rub'N Tug and DJ Harvey.
In 2006, the band headlined at various major festivals in Japan and Taiwan. In May 2007, Mesh-Key Records released the US version of "SWEET SPOT." In the same year, YURA YURA TEIKOKU went on their first Australian tour.
In July 2007, they released the single “Beautiful" and in fall 2007 they released their first studio album in two and a half years, "Hollow Me." DFA Records combined Beautiful and Hollow Me for a full-length CD release in November 2009.

As of March 31, 2010, according to the band's official website, after 21 years playing together the band has amicably broken up citing a loss of excitement. Each member plans to continue playing music in other projects in the future.

Members:
Shintaro Sakamoto (坂本慎太郎) - vocals, guitar
Chiyo Kamekawa (亀川千代) - bass guitar
Ichiro Shibata (柴田一郎) - drums

Official web pages:
www.yurayurateikoku.com
http://www.myspace.com/yurayurateikoku

できない
ゆらゆら帝国 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

今この界隈は泥沼
地獄巡りの運搬船だ
1, 2の3でトラウマ捨てた
もう時間だ行こう
笑顔で最高っていえるか?
むだな美学も売り渡した
適度にフリーな奴隷が
俺だよお前だってそう

道化だろうが
捨てたら大変だ
もうないよ
どうしたらいいんだ
捨てたら完全な死だ
まだこの界隈はうだうだ
いまだ無邪気な神経戦だ
1, 2の3でプライド捨てた
もうなんだっていい
笑顔で最高っていえるか?
地獄の釜も定員オーバー
激務でダウンの釜の番並べ
さあ人間よ
道化だろうが
捨てたら大変だ
もうないよ
どうしたらいいんだ
捨てたら完全な死だ
できない
できない
できない
できない

今この界隈は泥沼
地獄巡りの運搬船だ
1, 2の3でトラウマ捨てた
もう時間だ行こう
笑顔で最高っていえるか?
むだな美学も売り渡した
適度にフリーな奴隷が
俺だよお前だってそう
道化だろうが
捨てたら大変だ
もうないよ
どうしたらいいんだ
捨てたら完全な死だ
できない (できない)
できない (できない)
できない (できない)
できない (できない)
できない (できない)
できない (できない)

できない (できない)
できない

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of ゆらゆら帝国's song "できない" convey a feeling of being trapped in a difficult and suffocating environment. The opening lines describe the surrounding area as a quagmire, a hellish conveyor ship. The singer has tried to let go of their traumas and move on, but they wonder if they can truly say that everything is great with a smile. They feel that they have sacrificed their futile aesthetic principles and become moderately free slaves. The singer reflects that they themselves and everyone else are like jesters, and if they were to discard this role, it would be dangerous and there would be no turning back. They ponder the question of what they should do, realizing that discarding their facade would mean certain death, a complete annihilation of their existence.

The lyrics repeat this sense of being stuck in this murky and hellish environment, with the singer questioning if they can truly proclaim everything is great with a smile. They mention how even the hellish kettle is overcrowded, and they are one of the downtrodden workers laboring tirelessly. The concluding lines once again emphasize the impossibility of achieving something, highlighted by the repetitive phrase "できない" (can't do it).

Overall, the lyrics capture a sense of frustration and resignation, acknowledging the struggles and compromises one must make in a difficult environment. The singer questions their ability to maintain a happy facade while feeling trapped and adrift in a world that seems to offer no way out.

Line by Line Meaning

今この界隈は泥沼
The current situation in this community is a quagmire.

地獄巡りの運搬船だ
It is like a transportation ship that circles through hell.

1, 2の3でトラウマ捨てた
I discarded my traumas through a simple countdown.

もう時間だ行こう
It's time to go, without a delay.

笑顔で最高っていえるか?
Can I truly say I'm at my best with a smile on my face?

むだな美学も売り渡した
I sold out unnecessary aesthetics.

適度にフリーな奴隷が
Moderately free slaves exist.

俺だよお前だってそう
It's me, and you're the same.

道化だろうが
Whether you're a clown or not.

捨てたら大変だ
It would be troublesome if you discard it.

もうないよ
It doesn't exist anymore.